Biography by Vivian Hill
FIELDING Garnet Stewart 1935-
When he decided to study law Garnet Fielding was following a family tradition.
His grandfather James Burt Stewart established a successful practice in the
Goulburn Valley at Rushworth and Murchison. His uncle, Galloway Stewart practised
at Tatura and Murchison. His aunt Shelia Stewart (later MacInnes) practised
at Rushworth and his aunt Alison was a much liked and very capable law clerk
working in her father’s Murchison office. Later Galloway’s son
James Burt Stewart, the younger, continued the Stewart practice at Tatura and
Murchison.
Educated at Rushworth Higher Elementary School and at Scotch College Melbourne, a future of continuing interest in and knowledge of history and the humanities generally was foretold in 1951 when he was Dux of the College in British History, Modern History and Greek and Roman History. He was also the winner of one of the five Lord Gowrie Scholarships awarded throughout Australia to sons of ex-servicemen.
The next year he enrolled at Melbourne University where he studied law when the Law faculty was under the inspiring and energetic direction of the newly appointed Dean, Professor Zelman Cowen. A member of Ormond College while at University he graduated in 1956 at the age of 21.
Garnet went on to serve Articles with Buckland and Nevett at Camperdown. After admission in March1957 he began practice with the well-established firm of Whyte Just and Moore at Geelong. According to the daughter of the firm’s senior partner, he was engaged, not only because of his legal skills but because of his interest in cultural matters. Frank Just was not prepared to have a future colleague without a view of life beyond the law.
At Whyte Just and Moore Garnet Fielding had the responsibility of the litigation cases and built up that area of work drawing in substantial clients such as insurance companies as well as individual litigants. Careful and thorough, the briefs he prepared for counsel appearing for his clients were regarded by those who received them as among the best of any prepared by any solicitor in Victoria.
As Secretary of the Geelong Law Association for five years in the 1970s he applied the same energy and attention to detail to the affairs of the Association. There were certainly plenty of interesting speakers, good meals and excellent wines at the annual dinners and those tendered to visiting judges when Garnet was in charge of organizing them. These memorably successful and very well attended functions did not occur without his skills of persuasion and the recognition by members of his concern to serve them well. Having obtained the co-operation of Monsignor Murray of St Mary’s Catholic church he organised the first ecumenical church service in Australia to open the Legal Year.
In 1984 he
was appointed a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s
Court of Faculties at Westminster.
Very few Australians have bothered to acquire a fluency in foreign Languages. When others who attended the classes available at the Geelong Regional Library to learn the Italian Language dropped away after a few sessions Garnet persisted, developed a love for the language and Italian culture and joined the Dante Aligheri Society. He was to serve as President for 8 years. Has any other elder of the Presbyterian Church sung regularly in a Catholic church as a member of an Italian choir honouring St Bartholomew?
In 1977 the President of the Republic of Italy conferred on him a Knighthood of Merit of the Italian Republic in recognition of his work for the welfare of the Italian community in Geelong and in his promotion of Italian culture.
Since the early days of settlement many lawyers in Geelong have taken an active part in community affairs, frequently those connected with education. Garnet Fielding followed that tradition. He was appointed to the Geelong College council in 1979 and two years later he was elected chairman. He devoted fifteen years to the College’s welfare in that role and while chairman saw the College expand with new buildings, and more importantly, in greater educational opportunities for students. When he retired from that position in 1996 the farewell in the school magazine Pegagus summed up his years of voluntary service in these words “It is hard to imagine any body, school or otherwise, to have been better served by its Chairman than Geelong College has been by Garnet Fielding over the last 15 years. He honoured the Scottish tradition of devotion to the principle of fine education and of the ideal of service in the interest in others.”
Garnet Fielding retired from the partnership of Whyte Just and Moore in 1999 after 42 years of service to the Law.
Former members of the Ramblers, the walking and talking group he established remember fondly his hospitality, the fresh air, bush scenes and good conversations shared together.
Vivian Hill
References;
Interviews Mrs Marie Hocking 1997
G. S. Fielding 2002-
Pegasus Magazine 1996
History of the Melbourne Law School 1857-73 Ruth Campbell. 1977
Personal recollections.
Copyright Vivian Hill 2055 Portarlington Rd Drysdale 3222 8.2.2002